How important are absorbent sachets for gun cases?

ShootingUK is the complete shooting resource for the British shooting community. From shotgun licence and shotgun certificate information to gun reviews, game shooting, clay shooting and more.

| Next

How important are absorbent sachets for gun cases?

Silica gel packets are intended to keep the air inside the case dry while the gun, or whatever, is in transit to the retailer - nothing more.

By Mike George

Wednesday, 03 September 2008

How useful are those absorbent sachets you get in gun cases? Can they be relied upon to protect a wet gun after a day's shooting?

I also see you can get vapour oil patches to stick inside a gun cabinet - are they of any long term use?

Technical
MIKE GEORGE says:
I assume you are referring to those little packets of silica gel that are often packed with new guns, as well as with many different kinds of mechanical and electrical machinery.

They are intended to keep the air inside the case dry while the gun, or whatever, is in transit to the retailer - nothing more.

They certainly won't absorb enough water to dry out a wet gun.

Those vapour oil patches for gun cabinets are quite efficient, as long as guns are put away dry.

If you do get condensation inside your cabinet (usually when a cold day follows a warm, damp spell), then they do prevent rust.